(670 The Score) When he was introduced as the Bears' new general manager two years ago Wednesday, Ryan Poles set course on a goal for the franchise.
"The most important piece is we're going to take the North and never give it back," Poles said.
Two years later, the Bears have made progress toward that aspiration – and yet, winning the NFC North seems like it will be a daunting task in the coming years. Chicago will find that its division will likely be one of best in the NFL.
On Sunday, the Lions seemed headed to the franchise's first ever Super Bowl when they held a 24-7 lead over the 49ers at halftime before it slipped away in the second half of a 34-31 loss in the NFC Championship. Though it was a devastating defeat for Detroit, head coach Dan Campbell reminded after the game that his team could be right back in the same place next year.
Campbell and the Lions enjoyed a great turnaround, going from 3-13-1 in 2021 to 9-8 in 2022 and 12-5 this season. Detroit has much of its core returning for 2024 and should be the clear NFC North favorite.
The Lions' greatest challenge this offseason will likely be replacing offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who's a leading candidate for the Commanders' head coaching position. If they lose Johnson, the Lions will need to find another bright offensive leader — and do so late in this coaching hiring cycle.
While the Bears can draw inspiration from the Lions' resurgence, they also should acknowledge Detroit as the team to beat moving forward. Chicago split its two games with Detroit this past season, losing 31-26 in heartbreaking fashion at Ford Field in November before responding with a 28-13 victory at Soldier Field in December.
Beyond the Lions, the Packers appear to be another looming threat in the NFC North after reaching the divisional round in the playoffs this year. Led by 25-year-old quarterback Jordan Love, the Packers surprised with a 9-8 season and a 48-32 dismantling of the Cowboys in Dallas in the wild-card round.
After transitioning from Aaron Rodgers to Love, the Packers reached the playoffs while working with the youngest roster in the NFL. Green Bay had a weighted age of 25.58, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, making it the fourth-youngest team in the modern era to win a playoff game.
Love looks like he could be the type of franchise quarterback that has already spoiled Green Bay for the last three decades. In his first full season as a starter, Love threw for 4,159 yards and 32 touchdowns. No Bears quarterback has ever accomplished either feat, which underscores Chicago's need to get its quarterback decision right this offseason.
The Vikings are the NFC North foe with the least certainty heading into this offseason. They won the division in 2022 with a 13-4 mark while going 11-0 in one-score games, then predictably fell off with a 7-10 record this past season. Minnesota may be a team in transition this offseason, though it could move forward without a full rebuilding process. The Vikings must make a decision on 35-year-old quarterback Kirk Cousins' future and also should look into locking in superstar receiver Justin Jefferson to a long-term contract extension.
The Vikings have won at least seven games in each of the past 10 years, so the Bears can't expect them to suddenly fade out of the picture.
Since Poles took office at Halas Hall two years ago, he has overhauled the roster he inherited and put the Bears in better position to achieve sustained success. Chicago has endured two difficult rebuilding seasons full of challenges, but it appears poised for contention.
The Bears were an NFL-worst 3-14 during Poles' first year in 2022 before showcasing growth in going 7-10 this past season. Chicago has a great opportunity this offseason as it holds No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft, giving it the chance to either acquire more assets to build around three-year starter Justin Fields or select USC star quarterback Caleb Williams as the team's new potential prodigy.
The Bears have a roster full of promise, but their fate in the years to come will be decided by their call at quarterback this offseason.
So far, Poles has lived up to his promise of rebuilding the Bears' roster, but strong division rivals with plenty of hope for their own future are still standing in the way of Chicago taking the North.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago's sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.
